s uplifted arm.

"Stop, you blockhead!" he shouted. "I don't want you to kill the man!"
He then pointed again to the flesh and to the hole. The chief uttered a
few words, which had the desired effect; for the man threw the flesh
into the hole, which was immediately filled up. This man was of a
morose, sulky disposition, and during all the time he remained on the
island, regarded us--especially Jack--with a scowling visage. His name,
we found, was Mahine.

The next three or four days were spent by the savages in mending their
canoe, which had been damaged by the violent shock it had sustained on
striking the shore. This canoe was a very curious structure. It was
about thirty feet long, and had a high, towering stern. The timbers of
which it was partly composed were fastened much in the same way as those
of our little boat were put together; but the part that seemed most
curious to us was a sort of outrigger, or long plank, which was attached
to the body of the canoe by means of two stout cross-beams. These beams
kept the plank parallel with the canoe, but not in contact with it, for
it floated in the water with an open space between--thus forming a sort
of double canoe. This, we found, was intended to prevent the upsetting
of the canoe, which was so narrow that it could not have maintained an
upright position without the outrigger. We could not help wondering
both at the ingenuity and the clumsiness of this contrivance.

When the canoe was ready, we assisted the natives to carry the prisoners
into it, and helped them to load it with provisions and fruit. Peterkin
also went to the plum-tree for the purpose of making a special onslaught
upon the hogs, and killed no less than six of them. These we baked and
presented to our friends, on the day of their departure. On that day
Tararo made a great many energetic signs to us, which, after much
consideration, we came to understand were proposals that we should go
away with him to his island; but having no desire to do so, we shook our
heads very decidedly. However, we consoled him by presenting him with
our rusty axe, which we thought we could spare, having the excellent one
which had been so providentially washed ashore to us the day we were
wrecked. We also gave him a piece of wood with our names carved on it,
and a piece of string to hang it round his neck as an ornament.

In a few minutes more we were all assembled on the beach. Being unable
to speak to th